Hibiscus plant named ‘Fire Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Fire Wind’, characterized by its semi-upright, uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for container production; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIRE WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fire Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in 2009 of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Largo Breeze’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,869, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number 2691, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Jul. 16, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since September, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fire Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fire Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright, uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for         container production.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Large bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored         centers.     -   6. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Largo Breeze’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Largo Breeze’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit         than plants of ‘Largo Breeze’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in flowering         habit than plants of ‘Largo Breeze’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Largo Breeze’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Largo Breeze’ have orange-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Antigua Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,656. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘Antigua Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Antigua Wind’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit         than plants of ‘Antigua Wind’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Fire Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fire Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched three times and were ten months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Fire Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Largo             Breeze’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,869.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number 2691, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots, summer and winter.—About             four weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen,             semi-upright, compact and uniformly mounded plant habit;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 42 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 45 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster, immature.—Smooth; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, mature.—Woody and rough; matte.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 187A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker green than             147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than NN137A;             venation, close to NN137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.25 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped             single flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and             freely flowering habit with about three or four flowers per             terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Depending on temperature and water status,             flowers typically last about two to three days on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10.25 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:             Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist             flower bud drop during shipping. Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: More green than N137A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of             five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate.             Length: About 7.25 cm. Width: About 6.5 cm. Shape: Roughly             spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Glabrous, veins prominent; glossy.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 46B; towards the base, close to 53A; venation, similar to             lamina, close to 46B and 53A. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 46B to 46C; venation, close to 46B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals in a single whorl fused into             a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:             About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; waxy; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B             to 146C. Color, lower surface: Slightly more green than             146A.         -   Epicalyx.—Appearance: About seven in a single whorl fused at             base. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect:             Upright to slightly outward. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color:             More green than 146A; proximally tinged with close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 50 per flower. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament             color: Close to 46A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 6.9 cm. Style             length: About 5.8 cm. Style texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; waxy; glossy. Style color: Close to 46A. Stigma             appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to             53A. Ovary color: Close to 11C to 11D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 37° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hibiscus     grown under Florida production conditions have not been shown to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Fire Wind’ as illustrated and described. 